Divorce Lawyer in Bergen County

Family-Law-Only Attorneys Who Litigate & Mediate

Divorce touches every part of your life at once: your home, your finances, your children, your daily routine. Getting that process right requires attorneys who do nothing but family law. At Sherwood, Johnson & Poles, that’s exactly what we do. Our Bergen County divorce attorneys are both seasoned litigators and certified mediators, which means every resolution path is available to you from day one without switching firms or changing counsel. Whether your case belongs in the courtroom or at the mediation table, we’re equipped to take it there.

We’ve spent more than 25 years handling thousands of cases for Bergen County clients through the Bergen County Superior Court, Family Division, in Hackensack. Our attorneys work one-on-one with each client to build a strategy tailored to the specifics of the situation, not a template applied to every file. Electronic updates keep you informed at every stage so you’re never left wondering where things stand.

Why Bergen County Clients Choose Sherwood, Johnson & Poles

When you’re comparing attorneys, we want you to have the full picture. Here’s what sets our practice apart:

• Over 25 years of combined legal experience focused entirely on family law
• Thousands of cases handled for Bergen County families
• Certified mediators and experienced litigators on the same team, serving the same client
• Members of the New Jersey Association of Professional Mediators
• Free, private initial consultation
• Evening appointments available to fit your schedule
• Prompt responses to client questions and concerns
• Customized case strategies built around your goals, not a one-size-fits-all approach

We’re committed to ethical practice and to pursuing outcomes that hold up long after the final order is signed.

Call Sherwood, Johnson & Poles today at (888) 224-1218 or contact us online for a FREE consultation!

Grounds for Divorce in New Jersey

New Jersey recognizes both fault-based and no-fault divorce. The most commonly used no-fault option is irreconcilable differences, added to state law in 2007, which allows either party to file without proving wrongdoing. To file in New Jersey, at least one spouse must have been a resident for at least one year before filing. The one exception: when adultery is the grounds, the requirement is simply that at least one spouse is a New Jersey resident for any length of time.

Fault-based grounds for divorce in New Jersey include:

• Desertion: One spouse willfully abandons the other for at least 12 months
• Addiction: Voluntarily induced drug or alcohol addiction or habitual drunkenness for 12 or more consecutive months after the marriage and immediately preceding the filing of the complaint
• Institutionalization: A spouse has been institutionalized for a mental illness lasting two or more years
• Imprisonment: A prison sentence of 18 or more months imposed after the marriage
• Deviant sexual conduct: Voluntary conduct by the defendant performed without the plaintiff’s consent
• Extreme cruelty: Behavior that makes continued cohabitation unreasonable or impossible

If you’re unsure which grounds apply to your situation, a conversation with our Bergen County divorce attorneys can clarify your options.

Types of Divorce in New Jersey

New Jersey offers several paths to divorce depending on how much agreement exists between spouses. Understanding which type fits your situation helps you plan realistically for cost, timeline, and process.

• Uncontested Divorce: Both parties agree on property division, child custody, and child support. This path is generally faster and less costly, and it’s manageable with the right legal guidance from the start.
• Contested Divorce: When spouses can’t reach agreement on one or more issues, the case goes before a judge. Our attorneys have the litigation experience to represent your interests effectively in the Bergen County Superior Court, Family Division.
• Mediated Divorce: A neutral third party facilitates negotiation to help spouses reach a settlement through mediation. Because our attorneys are certified mediators themselves, they understand exactly how the process works and how to prepare you for it.

How Much Does Divorce Cost in New Jersey?

There’s no single answer, because costs depend on how contested the case is, how many court appearances are required, whether child custody is disputed, and how complex the financial picture is. What we can tell you is that reaching early agreement on asset division, support, and a parenting plan can reduce both legal fees and emotional strain for everyone involved.

Specific costs to anticipate include:

• The filing fee for divorce in New Jersey is $300.00; each motion filed carries an additional $50.00 fee
• Additional expenses can include service of process, subpoenas, depositions, trial preparation, and expert witness fees
• Pro se filing still carries court costs and filing fees, and errors made without counsel can increase total expense significantly

Going without an attorney to save money can lead to additional costs. When children’s futures and financial stability are on the line, counsel who knows New Jersey family law and the Bergen County courts can help protect your rights and long-term interests. Many clients find that mediation, handled by our certified mediator-attorneys, can reduce costs compared to contested litigation without compromising the process.

Protecting Property & Children Before the Final Order

You can petition for temporary orders at any point during the divorce process to establish stability while the case is pending. Temporary orders can address property possession, child support, and custody arrangements, giving everyone in the household a clear set of rules to operate under. Once the judge issues a final order at the conclusion of the divorce, it supersedes all temporary orders.

Alternative Dispute Resolution for Bergen County Divorce

Our attorneys are members of the New Jersey Association of Professional Mediators and are credentialed to serve as your mediator for matters including high-asset divorce, child support, alimony and spousal support, and other complex divorce issues.

The alternative dispute resolution options we offer include:

• Mediation: A neutral third party facilitates negotiation between spouses to reach a mutually agreeable settlement. Both parties retain full control over the outcome, and the process is more private and typically less costly than courtroom litigation.
• Collaborative Divorce: Both parties and their attorneys work together to find solutions that serve everyone’s interests. If the collaborative process breaks down and litigation becomes necessary, both parties must retain new counsel, so the commitment to the process is real on all sides.
• Arbitration: A neutral arbitrator hears arguments from both sides and issues a decision that can be binding or non-binding, depending on the agreement. Arbitration is generally faster than court and offers greater privacy.

If you don’t wish to legally divorce, for example for religious reasons, we can petition for a divorce from bed and board or help you enter into a separation agreement with your spouse. These arrangements provide formal legal protection without requiring an absolute divorce. We serve clients throughout Bergen County and the surrounding area and can help identify the option that fits your circumstances.

Social Media During a Bergen County Divorce

Social media posts can be admitted as evidence and used against you in custody determinations or financial proceedings. Badmouthing your spouse in a public post can damage your standing in custody hearings. Posting vacation photos or images of a lavish lifestyle while claiming financial hardship undermines alimony or child support arguments before a judge. The safest approach is to pause all social media activity until your divorce is finalized.

If stepping away entirely isn’t realistic, take precautions. Here are specific behaviors to avoid while your divorce is pending:

• Don’t discuss any details of your case online
• Ask friends and family not to post about your divorce or tag you in anything related to it
• Don’t use check-in features or share your location
• Don’t repost memes about marriage or relationships
• Don’t post photos from parties, nights out, or vacations
• Don’t post images or videos of your children in activities your spouse would object to

Anything shared online can reach the judge. Negative or harassing comments about your spouse can hurt your credibility as a parent and as a party to the financial proceedings. If you’re unsure whether something is safe to post, ask us before you post it.

How a Bergen County Divorce Attorney Protects Your Interests

Working with Sherwood, Johnson & Poles means having an attorney who knows New Jersey family law and the Bergen County courts and who stays with your case from the initial filing through the final order. Because our attorneys are skilled litigators and certified mediators, we can represent you whichever direction the case goes without interrupting your representation or asking you to start over with someone new.

Practical ways our attorneys help Bergen County divorce clients:

• Paperwork: Filing all documents correctly and on time to avoid delays or procedural errors that add cost
• Deadlines: Tracking and meeting all court-imposed deadlines throughout the case
• Negotiation: Advocating for a fair marital settlement agreement before the case reaches a judge
• Court representation: Representing you in the Bergen County Superior Court, Family Division, when litigation is necessary
• Guidance: Helping you understand your rights regarding equitable distribution, custody, support, and post-judgment modifications so your decisions are informed

We offer a free initial consultation so you can understand your options before making any commitment. Contact us today to speak with a divorce lawyer at Sherwood, Johnson & Poles.

Related Family Law & Divorce Pages

• Divorce FAQ
• Alimony & Spousal Support
• Asset Division
• Child Custody
• Child Support
• Contested Divorce

Additional Bergen County Divorce Resources

• BLOG: How to Get Yourself Ready for a Divorce
• BLOG: Mistakes to Avoid During Your Divorce
• BLOG: Divorce with Special Needs Children
• BLOG: When Doctors Get Divorced: Important Factors to Consider